Namibia

Lüderitz, Namibia - Speed sailing has come to be more than just extreme speed, it's also about extremes in size.  Until this past week, the record for a wind-powered watercraft was held (and is still officially held) by a sailboard - a giant in comparison to the new unofficial record holder:  a kiteboard, which was able to average an amazing 50.57kts, exposing the 50kt "wind barrier" as the arbitrary number it was.  However, this week also saw the giant hydrofoil trimaran l'Hydroptere set its own speed record, and

Jeanne Socrates has been sailing single-handed for about five years now on her yacht "Nereida", a Najad 361. She is currently 12 months into her first solo circumnavigation, having left Mexico in March of last year. Jeanne has now rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and is sailing north along the African continent, before heading across the Atlantic ocean to Trinidad.